Chapter 54: Fully on the Lips

April 1999

When we went to the indoor range that Dread and his security force used, she scored amazingly accurate for a first timer. Even Dread was impressed. He stated that shooting was a skill that women picked up at a faster rate than men did. Rachel smiled, as she was building confidence. I scored well, but my shoulder still hurt when I fired. I still needed to develop the ability to use the crossbow but was still having trouble getting the bowstring drawn back. Rachel had trouble as well but was able to do it when properly coached by Dread. He stated that I needed to get on the rowing machine to build up the muscles needed to draw the crossbow string.

After the range practice, Dread took us back to the armory where the weapons were stored. I was impressed when he took out two long, narrow and ornately decorated cases. He opened them, exposing a Samurai-style sword encased in a scabbard, lying in a red velvet lined case. “You may pick it up, Malcolm. It is yours to keep, courtesy of the Queen. She instructed it ordered a few weeks ago and instructed me to plate the blade heavily in silver. These blades are extremely sharp.

Rachel, there is one for you as well, a gift to you from the Queen.”

I was stunned. Tayla had the foresight to know what I would request long before I would ask for it. It was just as amazing that she had seemed to know my plan for the attack on the Black Clan and all its intricacies. She had understood my plan and finetuned it all at the same time at the dinner table this night.

Rachel looked at me as if she could not believe what was happening. Suddenly, everything seemed so serious, and not a fantasy anymore. However, she seemed to handle it well, as she picked up the scabbard off the bed of red velvet. “I think it has finally hit me, guys. This is what I am supposed to cut heads with, right?”

“Yes, I am afraid so, Rachel. Reality has finally set in. It did not take as long for Malcolm,” Dread said. “We had to put on quite a demonstration for him, and then let him contemplate it for forty-eight hours. He came around quite nicely. No trouble at all.”

Rachel fired back, “My husband Malcolm is used to being exposed to things that I don’t normally get any exposure to. He is more suited for these kinds of things. But I didn’t think he had the capacity to kill anybody.”

Now it was my turn. “I killed those people in Colombia because if I hadn’t, they would have killed me and my friend, and I wouldn’t be standing here having this conversation. Dread, my friend, who is going to give us instruction in the use of this fine instrument?” I picked up the sword and marveled at its balance, its weight and its beauty. Such a fine instrument of warfare! It was far too beautiful an instrument to bloody up and make such a mess of things!

“I am not an expert with the sword. You only need to know a few moves with it. I suppose to wield it against Rascha it would be enough. Hopefully, you will only need to use it once,” he said.

The room became colder, and a mist began to slither under the door and surround the room like a serpent, as we stood in its coils. I knew it could only mean one thing. The Queen was paying us another visit. The light dimmed somewhat and then the mist began to form a shape of a human standing in the room next to us. Then it took on a more defined shape and finally into the Queen herself. This time, she was the blonde Tayla that I found so attractive. Her clothes had changed again, and she was dressed in her dark maroon robes with a hood clinging to the back of her head, hiding her soft waving blonde hair.

“I was going to go out, but I felt it necessary to consult with Malcolm about a few things first. Rachel, if you do not mind, will you continue to train tonight, as I wish to speak with Malcolm alone for a while, please. Malcolm, walk with me to the library, please.”

I nodded my “It’s ok, honey” look to Rachel, and she nodded back. I turned and went out the door to follow Tayla.

We arrived at the library, and entered, with the door closing behind us. The fire erupted in the fireplace, and Tayla sat in her usual chair. I sat in mine.

“Malcolm, I have told you many things about vampires. You know who we are, and what we are all about in this world. I have told you about the Jackals order, and its high priest, the Dragon. We both know about our relationship, how I feel about you, and those things about you that draw me to you. You have met many of my key familiars and gotten to know them. What I need to know is what your plans are after you successfully take down the Black and Red clans?”